Avalanche forecast

Jasper

May 2 – 3, 2013Parks Canada

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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat

Sun

Alpine

3 · Considerable

Treeline

3 · Considerable

Below

2 · Moderate

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Highlights

The mountains are waking up and a significant avalanche cycle is expected this weekend as temperatures peak into the 20's.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible - Likely
Size
1–3
40cm of storm snow has fallen since Saturday. West and NW winds have moved this snow onto lee aspects. South facing aspects are particularly likely trigger areas where the bonding of the new snow to the old melt freeze crust is weakest.
Cornices
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2–3
Large cornices are looming. On failure, deep releases may run far into the valley bottom.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
1–3
Warm temperatures and strong solar effect are creating loose wet avalanches with last weekend's storm snow that are picking up mass and traveling far.

Weather Forecast

Friday will see cloudy mild conditions with alpine winds dropping to light. The freezing level may rise to 2500m on friday. On Saturday,

Snowpack Summary

The 40cm of snow that fell last week in the Icefields area has been blown into windslabs below easterly alpine ridgelines. Mild conditions are warming this new snow and it is becoming wet and is sliding on the buried crusts. Relatively warm overnight temperatures are limiting the development of a supportive crust.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose wet avalanches were reported along the Icefields Parkway on all aspects and well into the alpine. These avalanches have been involving last week's storm snow and have been running far (300 to 400 m) with little mass. Most are size 1 to 1.5 but a few are up to size 2.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Friday

Regions covered

Jasper